NameCensus.

UK surname

Swalwell

A locational surname indicating someone from a place with a spring or well.

In the 1881 census there were 217 people recorded with the Swalwell surname, ranking it #12,188 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 406, ranked #11,754, up from #12,188 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Wigan and Ayton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hambleton, Sunderland and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Swalwell is 409 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 87.1%.

1881 census count

217

Ranked #12,188

Modern count

406

2016, ranked #11,754

Peak year

2013

409 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Swalwell had 217 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,188 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 406 in 2016, ranked #11,754.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 307 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Swalwell surname distribution map

The map shows where the Swalwell surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Swalwell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Swalwell over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 182 #11,209
1861 historical 158 #14,644
1881 historical 217 #12,188
1891 historical 242 #13,048
1901 historical 283 #12,117
1911 historical 307 #11,257
1997 modern 379 #11,447
1998 modern 379 #11,851
1999 modern 393 #11,602
2000 modern 399 #11,422
2001 modern 394 #11,344
2002 modern 405 #11,335
2003 modern 382 #11,642
2004 modern 387 #11,559
2005 modern 385 #11,512
2006 modern 372 #11,878
2007 modern 389 #11,604
2008 modern 386 #11,795
2009 modern 400 #11,729
2010 modern 408 #11,804
2011 modern 405 #11,765
2012 modern 393 #11,874
2013 modern 409 #11,714
2014 modern 406 #11,865
2015 modern 404 #11,814
2016 modern 406 #11,754

Geography

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Where Swalwells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Wigan, Ayton, Stranton and Scarborough. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hambleton, Sunderland and Northumberland. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Wigan Lancashire
3 Ayton Yorkshire, North Riding
4 Stranton Durham
5 Scarborough Yorkshire, North Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hambleton 002 Hambleton
2 Sunderland 029 Sunderland
3 Northumberland 012 Northumberland
4 Sunderland 005 Sunderland
5 Sunderland 016 Sunderland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Swalwell

These lists show first names that appear often with the Swalwell surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Swalwell

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Swalwell, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Swalwell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Swalwell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Swalwell is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Swalwell is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Swalwell falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Swalwell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Swalwell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Swalwell

The surname SWALWELL has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the place name Swaledale, a valley in the Yorkshire Dales region of northern England. The name is believed to have originated from the Old English words "sualuw" meaning "swallow" and "dæl" meaning "valley," referring to the Swallow Valley.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Sualedale." This historical record provides evidence of the name's existence and usage during the Norman Conquest of England.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various medieval records with spellings such as "Swaledal," "Swaledale," and "Swalldale." These variations reflect the evolution of the name over time and the influence of regional dialects on its pronunciation and spelling.

Notable individuals with the surname SWALWELL include:

1. Thomas Swalwell (c. 1600-1668), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Swalwell in County Durham. 2. Richard Swalwell (1647-1708), an English barrister and legal writer who published several works on English law and legal practices. 3. William Swalwell (1674-1744), an English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in Durham and Newcastle upon Tyne. 4. John Swalwell (1789-1856), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a Member of Parliament for Sunderland. 5. Mary Swalwell (1826-1892), an English philanthropist and social reformer who founded several charitable institutions in Newcastle upon Tyne.

The surname SWALWELL has also been associated with various place names throughout England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire, Durham, and Northumberland. These place names often incorporate the word "Swalwell," reflecting the geographical origins of the surname and its connection to specific locations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Swalwell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Swalwell surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Durham leads with 93 Swalwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.77x.

County Total Index
Durham 93 14.77x
Yorkshire 67 3.19x
Lancashire 22 0.88x
Northumberland 18 5.72x
Surrey 7 0.68x
Hampshire 5 1.15x
Worcestershire 3 1.09x
Middlesex 2 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stranton in Durham leads with 19 Swalwells recorded in 1881 and an index of 89.62x.

Place Total Index
Stranton 19 89.62x
Middlesbrough 10 36.62x
Billingham 9 833.33x
Earsdon 8 312.50x
Hylton 8 720.72x
Westoe 8 22.41x
Battersea 7 8.99x
Darlington 7 28.79x
Gate Fulford 7 142.86x
Great Ayton 7 546.88x
Monkwearmouth Shore 7 56.96x
Pickering 7 265.15x
York St Giles In 7 353.54x
Roxby 6 4615.38x
Wigan 6 17.09x
Aldershot 5 34.41x
Backworth 5 602.41x
Gateshead 5 10.61x
Great Smeaton 5 3571.43x
Middleton In Oldham 5 66.40x
Oldham 5 6.17x
Stockton On Tees 5 16.47x
East Rainton 4 327.87x
Longbenton 4 29.99x
Scarborough 4 20.99x
Snainton 4 714.29x
Barton Upon Irwell 3 15.86x
Kidderminster Foreign 3 76.73x
South Shields 3 53.48x
Witton Le Wear 3 167.60x
Worsley 3 19.38x
York St George 3 181.82x
Bromley London 2 4.29x
Collierley 2 71.17x
Durham St Nicholas 2 129.03x
Ruswarp Hawsker Cum 2 384.62x
Tanfield 2 26.70x
Wolviston 2 454.55x
Boldon 1 44.64x
Chirton 1 14.03x
Elvet 1 21.98x
Evenwood Barony 1 46.73x
Falsgrave 1 32.36x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 1 3.67x
Heworth 1 8.06x
Mickleby 1 833.33x
Norton 1 43.29x
Scalby In Scarborough 1 232.56x
Selby 1 22.83x
Tudhoe 1 18.15x
York St Mary 1 11.51x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Swalwell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 17
Sarah 9
Margaret 6
Ada 5
Ann 5
Elizabeth 5
Hannah 4
Jane 4
Alice 3
Annie 3
Emily 3
Isabella 3
Amelia 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Emma 2
Frances 2
Anne 1
Beatrice 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Dora 1
Dorothy 1
E. 1
Eliza 1
Ellen 1
Ethel 1
Francess 1
Harriet 1
Laura 1
Lenora 1
Lucy 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Marie 1
Martha 1
Maude 1
Minn 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1
Tabatha 1
Tamar 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Swalwell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 26
Thomas 12
William 12
George 10
Benjamin 4
James 4
Joseph 4
Robert 4
Albert 2
Anthony 2
Charles 2
Ernest 2
Harry 2
Isaac 2
Lot 2
Samuel 2
Thos. 2
Adam 1
Alfred 1
Aloyious 1
Edward 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Harold 1
Harrison 1
Jno. 1
Marmaduke 1
R.H. 1
Reginald 1
Sidney 1
Simpson 1
Spencer 1
T. 1
Thos.H. 1
Thos.Josh. 1
Wm. 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Swalwell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Swalwell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 217 people were recorded with the Swalwell surname. That placed it at #12,188 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Swalwell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 406 in 2016. That gives Swalwell a modern rank of #11,754.

What does the Swalwell surname mean?

A locational surname indicating someone from a place with a spring or well.

What does the Swalwell map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Swalwell bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.